Remote Desktop and RRAS

[tmilo]

Help please. I'm a bit confused.

I've a win2003 dedicated server (used to host about 20 websites) about a year old. It's leased from a host, so ALL my server management is via remote desktop. The server is otherwise used only for web services and DNS services. I also run a non-ms mail server and Helm Control panel software on it.

The server also has the RRAS role set up, and this gets to the heart of my question. I don't ever remember setting up RRAS. To my knowledge, RRAS isn't used for anything else on the server. There is no need for any VPN, NAT,DialUp or other remote access other than Remote Desktop management.

My question.... Is RRAS necessary for Remote desktop? I didn't think it was. But if I stop the RRAS service, I loose the ability to connect via remote desktop.

A friend to me I could safely remove RRAS and still connect via Remote Desktop. He said that just stopping the RRAS service prevented the IP routing tables from working properly... but removing the RRAS role completely would put IP routing tables back the way they should be.

I'm not technically saavy enough to know. I don't want to cause huge problems or bring down all the websites. I cannot afford to have major downtime on this box.

Can anyone offer some additional insight?

I would REALLY like to be able to use the built in Windows FireWall, but cannot as long as RRAS is running.

TIA...

Tim

 

[tmilo]

OK.... I got some responses from another forum, and thought I would post the result of my actions here... in case anyone else was interested.

1. RRAS is NOT required for Remote Desktop to function properly

2. Stopping the RRAS service (or disabling it) makes the IP router tables not work properly, and Remote Desktop will not work. But UNINSTALLING the RRAS ROLE is NO problem whatsoever.

3. I uninstalled the RRAS role remotely, and the Remote Desktop stayed active throughout the entire removal process. All applications and IPs were properly active afterwards. There were NO glitches at all.

Tim

3. During